Arlene Phillips Holding Back the Years

For the first time in Britain,

there are more people over the age of 60 than under 16.

You're 83.

100 years on this earth.

We've got some amazing volunteers in their 80s and 90s.

But what does growing older mean for you?

Difficult, sometimes more than other times.

-I don't think you should be nervous about getting old.

-Yeah.

It's a wonderful state.

Our team is getting to the bottom of

the key ageing concerns that you've told us about.

Deciding when to retire.

Being more sociable.

Keeping healthy.

Making your voice heard.

Or the cost of happiness.

And, even if you haven't yet reached your golden years,

it's never too early to start planning.

So, whether you're an old dog or a young pup,

get ready to learn some new tricks

as we lift the lid on holding back the years.

Time makes you think about

how you've changed and how you've stayed the same.

I'm Arlene, and I'm an OAP.

How did that happen?

It's incredible to think that if

I'd been born earlier in the 20th century

I probably wouldn't even have made 70.

But longer life expectancy throws up

some big issues and questions that affect us all.

What are you meant to look,

feel and act like now as a pensioner living in the 21st century?

Well, I have to say, being who you want to be

is the key to holding back the years.

And, in this episode, I'll be introducing you to some people

who can offer us new ways of approaching later life.

'Whether it's by taking control of the way they look...'

Oh, my gosh!

Oh, dear!

'..fighting for grey power...'

My voice is now so strong and so clear

in a way that it's never been before.

'..or how a new experience could

'actually help keep you young at heart.'

What was it that Angela said?

The most fun you can have with your clothes on.

First, let me tell you why

this subject has personal interest for me.

Welcome to Manchester.

This place has the honour of being

the UK's first-ever age-friendly city,

according to none other than the World Health Organization,

which means it's recognising that

senior citizens need to be front and centre

when it comes to facilities, access and things to do.

But more of that later. First and foremost,

I'm proud of coming from here, because this is where I started life

73 years ago as a chubby little girl.

I lived in the Manchester area for the first 22 years of my life,

and it's a place I'll always call home.

Back in the 1940s and '50s, however, it looked quite a bit different.

'Manchester - big and black.

'Often, a pall of smoky mist hangs over its maze of mean streets.'

It was a typical northern industrial city back then,

coming out of depression, war and industrial decline.

Life expectancy was barely above 60, making old people a rarity.

Those who did live into old age,

meanwhile, often did so in ill health,

having to be looked after by their family or neighbours.

And they were the lucky ones!

For others, life was pretty miserable.

I, on the other hand, have very fond memories of these old days.

We were a family of five -

my parents, brother, Ian, and my sister, Karen.

I lived in Prestwich, and eventually moved to Didsbury,

where my father opened a barber shop.

This is him.

And this is my mother standing outside the shop,

sadly, before she passed away when I was 15 years old.

But, for me, here in the middle, the person I became

is really down to the times in which I did most of my growing up -

the '60s!

-# People try to put us down

-Talkin' 'bout my generation... #

We all know this was an age of great music and fashion,

but it was also a decade of massive social and cultural change, too.

It's when we fought for our civil rights

and we weren't afraid to shout about it.

It helped inject into us a certain attitude,

one that I certainly brought to my choreography

after forming the dance troupe Hot Gossip.

You've been described as the woman who put the bump and the grind

back into seductive dancing. What's a bump and a grind?

Oh, that's two hip moves.

A bump goes bump and a grind goes around.

Um, yeah, you could say that.

Decades later, my generation has carried on its rebellious spirit

into our old age. We're just not ready to conform

to the stereotypes of being a senior citizen.

Well, today I want to introduce you to some people who are role models,

not just for people of a certain age

but for everyone of any age.

First up, a group of ladies who you could say have found the light,

because they believe in G-O-D.

But not that sort of God you're thinking of.

No, in this case, G-O-D stands for Growing Old Disgracefully.

And they have groups spreading all over the country.

Every group has their own activities,

from dancing to treasure hunts,

and if it's something they've never done before, even better!

I like the sound of it.

You're called Growing Old Disgracefully.

So, what is your philosophy on life?

Just to live life to the full, really.

Make the best we can of the rest of our lives,

and...willing and ready to try new things.

We want to do things for ourselves,

experience the most out of life.

And that's what Growing Old Disgracefully is all about.

Why did you want to be part of the group?

I joined about ten years ago, I think,

and I was introduced by a friend.

And, at the time, life was pretty tough for me,

I had a husband who had been ill for many years,

and I found the friendship and support of this group

just what I needed at the time.

I was a carer for my husband, and I felt I wanted to get out

somewhere I could meet likeminded people

for support and friendship.

It's lovely to be with so many likeminded women, and if you're

a bit worried about getting older

the oldest person in our group is 95.

-Whoa!

-And she is a role model for everybody.

So, that's G-O-D, I think, in a nutshell.

It's the opposite of how old people behaved in the days gone by,

when we were expected to take to our rocking chairs

to do our knitting and smoke our pipes.

Maybe occasionally getting the odd day out with our chums!

Old age was thought to be nothing more than God's waiting room,

until it was your time to kick the bucket.

Today, however, research shows that

learning new skills and doing new stuff

might actually be the key to holding back the years.

Some even say that having a bucket list filled with new experiences

could put years on your life

by releasing the sort of endorphins and hormones

that give a good old-fashioned jolt to the system.

And what adventures, what things do you try?

Oh, wow, these days I spend a lot of time doing advanced driving.

I took the course and really enjoyed it,

and it improved my driving.

So I decided to become a tutor.

And now quite a lot of the people who come to us are elderly

people who are losing their confidence

and afraid that they might not be able to drive any more.

So, helping them to regain confidence,

it's just wonderful to see them so pleased with themselves.

I took part in a flash mob

a few months back, and they had the same thing done in each city

throughout Europe on the same day,

and I was part of the Manchester one.

-And your dance was exercises to help you...

-Balance.

-..not fall over!

-Balance.

-Yeah, which obviously, as you grow older, is important.

It was all to the tune of...

# It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it

# It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it

# And that's what gets results! #

-Woo!

-APPLAUSE

But, yeah, that was good.

What would your advice be

if anyone's worried about embarrassing themselves

if they join a group like this?

Oh, for goodness' sake!

Who cares?

It really doesn't matter, does it?

Somebody else's opinion,

if they don't like what you're doing it's their problem, isn't it?

'Hear, hear. Sisters doing it for themselves.

'And talking of sisters, why no brothers here?'

A question - why are there no blokes in this group?

If we did have men in the group, it would affect the dynamics.

And we want to be ourselves.

We want to experience life for ourselves and not be

marginalised by men pushing their way in and trying to organise us.

We want to do our things.

And that's basically why.

We're not misogynist, we just want to do things for ourselves.

'OK, enough of the chitchat. Time to get moving.

'One of the mission statements of these ladies is that you're

'never too old to try something for the first time.

'And, so, today, that's exactly what I'm going to witness them do.

'First up, a quick instructional video.

'Although I think all the ladies prefer the personal approach.'

My name's Josh, I'm going to be your instructor.

When you want to get in, you want to be as big as you possibly can,

so what you're looking for is like a big star shape, yeah?

Could we all do a big star shape?

'What's clear is that by learning a brand-new skill like this,

'it's the mind as well as the body that's being put through its paces.

'And research shows this keeps the brain sharper than doing

'familiar things like, say, the crossword.

'Hand signals memorised, it's now time to get suited and booted,

'but will the experience be heaven or hell for the gals from GOD?

'No backing out now.'

-Are you good? Are you in?

-I'm in.

-You're in. There we go. Perfect.

LAUGHTER

You're not going out to play until you've got your coat fastened!

LAUGHTER

-So, how are you all feeling?

-Excited.

-Excited.

-Are you ready to fly?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Let's do it.

MUSIC: Glad All Over by The Dave Clark Five

# Glad all over, yes I'm-a

# Glad all over, baby I'm

# Glad all over, so glad you're mine... #

I really admire these ladies.

They are prepared to give it a real go.

'If all this doesn't get the adrenaline and endorphins flowing,

'then I don't know what will.

'And that, ultimately, can help the immune system and give us

'a real health boost.'

# Glad all over, yes I'm-a... #

You might even get a free face-lift out of it.

Talk about blowing your face in the wind.

Looks like your face is about to be blown apart.

'But even apart from the health benefits, it's showing the old adage

'that you can't teach old dogs new tricks is totally wrong.

'And you can forget about keeping our feet on the ground.'

This is not just about skydiving.

This is about taking on challenges in later life and doing

things that you have never done before.

And that's why I admire these ladies.

Of course, you don't have to go to the extremes of skydiving to

get the benefits of trying something new.

Psychologists say that older people can get the same buzz from

even small things,

whether it's trying a new food for the first time,

taking up a hobby or travelling the world and seeing brand-new places.

Put another way, boredom is bad for your health.

Increasing the risk of loneliness,

depression and even physical ill-health.

So, just get on your bike and get out there.

An added bonus of trying something new is that you might also

inspire others.

And that's certainly happened today,

because I'm going to give indoor skydiving a goal.

WIND BLOWS

'Not my most flattering look, but I don't care. It's worth it.

'Well, the verdict's in. Looks like they've reached seventh heaven.'

-Oh, fabulous.

-Brilliant.

It was just so exhilarating, wasn't it? It went up to the top.

And, you know, my knee, it just doesn't hurt. It just doesn't hurt.

Yeah, it felt light, though, when you were in there. Yeah, very good.

Well, I didn't sleep at all last night worrying about it.

And I shouldn't have done, because it was fabulous!

What was I worrying about?

Oh, what was it that Angela said?

Most fun you could have with your clothes on.

THEY LAUGH

Brilliant.

'Well, when it comes to GOD, I'm ready to say hallelujah.

'For me, these ladies show that just because we're older,

'the Baby Boomer generation hasn't lost its edge or get-up-and-go.

'In fact, the sky is very much the limit.'

I think we should be really proud of ourselves.

'Of course, for some, when it comes to holding back the years,

'how they look is as important as how they behave.

'And "look good, feel good"

'is a motto I can certainly empathize with.

'But how far would or should you take it?

'Enough to go under the knife?

'Cosmetic surgery has been around for years,

'but hasn't always been held in the highest regard.'

-ARCHIVE FOOTAGE:

-Not many British doctors carry out these operations,

as they're generally regarded by the Medical Association as frivolous.

Today, however, it's big business, raking in around three billion a

year with approximately 30,000 Brits choosing to go under the knife.

And one of the main reasons for doing so

is to counter the outward signs of ageing.

But why the seeming obsession?

I've come to one of Cheshire's leading cosmetic surgery

clinics, where I'm meeting consultant Mr Gary Ross.

OK, now, that really should start working almost instantly, all right?

'He performs around 400 procedures a year,

'with spending totalling over £1.5 million.

'Today, it's a minor procedure,

'moving a lesion from a patient's eyelid.

'And it leaves me thinking more about the sort of patients who come

'into his operating theatre.'

-All done. OK.

-Excellent.

Is cosmetic surgery a growing trend for ageing women -

and, indeed, for men?

In my personal practice, I've seen about a 200% increase

from around five years ago - and that's both men and women.

There are more over-60s around.

I think that the over-60s are a golden generation,

with pensions, good pensions.

They've got more disposable income, in order to spoil themselves.

I think, also, in terms of diet and lifestyle,

they have looked at that and taken it on board.

They're fitter than they were ten years ago,

and there's more to live for.

I'm curious to know, what is the most requested procedure

-that you get asked for?

-Certainly in the 60s-plus,

almost invariably it's face, eyelids -

so, in terms of, you know, what ages first in that area,

it's the areas of the body that are in the sun.

Do you think that cosmetic surgery is giving in

to society's obsession with youth?

I think we're all scared, in a way, of getting older,

we're all scared of what will happen,

but there's no harm in feeling better about oneself,

or improving one's own quality of life -

and cosmetic surgery might be part of that.

I think, as long as one understands what one is getting into,

understands the risks, the complications,

and is able to weigh that up and empower oneself to make a decision -

I think cosmetic surgery can improve quality of life,

and it's something that more and more people are looking to do.

OK, Gary, if I came to see you,

what would you recommend for me? I'm 73.

Er... I would say you don't need anything.

-You're being very kind!

-Enjoy your life, have a nice holiday, and...

Yeah. That's what I would say, initially.

-I'm going to come back to you.

-Yeah.

OK, that was very nice, but I'd like a bit of this...

Could you do that?

Well, I think, just for that area, it probably is surgical.

We need to go through the pros and cons, but, certainly,

age is not... There is no limit in terms of age.

-It's just your fitness for an anaesthetic.

-I'm fit!

I might be seeing you soon!

For some, of course,

the subject of cosmetic surgery provokes mixed feelings.

Isn't it just an expensive hobby for those who can afford it,

and are vain enough?

Instead, shouldn't we be proud of the way we look as we get older,

and celebrate our wrinkles?

To help answer these questions, I've been granted permission

to sit in on a consultation with 64-year-old Barbara Lewis.

-Hello, Barbara.

-Hi, Gary.

-Nice to see you again.

-Hi, yes.

-Come on through. So, it's been a while.

-Yes, it has.

Five years ago, Barbara had cosmetic surgery on her arms,

followed by reconstructive surgery on her stomach after various

abdominal operations.

Since then, she has had cosmetic surgery on her upper eyes

and is now considering further facial procedures.

How have they been - how have the scars been?

-Fantastic, fantastic.

-Great.

What brings you back now?

Right, well, um...

-I thought I needed something round here.

-OK.

Going a bit...round my neck and jowls, and things like that.

-I'm very happy with the way I look...

-Mm.

..but I just feel that it's going a bit here, now.

There are many different options here, and, you know,

they range from nonsurgical all the way through to surgical,

and the most traditional is Botox and fillers.

Botox tends to knock out the muscles, reduce the lines.

There are minimal access options, where that means a small incision,

but "small incision" usually means

a small amount of surgery and small result.

I think, surgically, the best way to be able to help this area

would be a face and a neck left.

The neck needs to be tightened,

which invariably raises the tissue higher.

We're looking to raise the tissue of the lower jaw

higher into the mid-face, and then the lower face, in essence,

-gets moved up onto the mid-face.

-OK.

'All of which could cost around £10,000 -

'but, as part of the price,

'Barbara can use the latest in virtual technology

'to give an indication of what she could look like.'

Oh, my God!

Oh, dear!

Oh, wow. Scary!

THEY LAUGH

-That is scary.

-OK?

Fantastic.

'Even if Barbara decides to go ahead with surgery,

'there will be a compulsory two-week cooling off period

'to give her time to change her mind -

'but I must say she seems pretty determined from where I'm sitting.

'So, the big question for me

'is why she continues to go through with it -

'and what can we learn from her experience?'

Barbara, why are you considering having more plastic surgery

for cosmetic reasons?

Well, because I think, as a woman, as you get older,

you lose confidence and your self-esteem goes down,

if you look in the mirror

and you don't like what's looking back at you.

I've always looked after myself and I've always looked after my skin

and everything, and I think, as you get older, you know,

unfortunately, it happens, doesn't it?

Ageing, things drop, and things like that,

and I think that it's all about feeling good about yourself,

and if you look good, you feel good.

Would you recommend plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons to others?

Yes, I would recommend it, and I have recommended it. I think that...

I understand if people don't want to do it,

and are frightened of having it done, but I think, in the long run,

it helps you as a lady getting older -

and some people say, "Well, I don't need that,

"I'm happy with the way I am," and that's fine,

that's absolutely fine, but I think, from my point of view,

-it's helped me enormously.

-Mm.

So, I definitely would recommend it.

So, arms down by your sides, stand up nice and straight

and just tuck your hair behind your ears...

'Well, Barbara seems convinced

'that it's something she's doing for herself, not for other people -

'so, I can't resist the chance to get my face profiled

'for the virtual reality goggles,

'to get an idea what I could perhaps look like

'with a little nip and tuck.'

-Here we go!

-Here we go.

Oh, my God, it's so strange!

I can see my entire face!

And neck.

This is incredible.

It's amazing to see what you could possibly look like.

-You can see the future!

-Yes, definitely.

-Yeah.

-Definitely.

-Are you excited?

-Very excited.

-So am I!

-Very excited!

Looking at the 3-D technology was incredible,

seeing the way you could look.

But, at the end of the day, it's entirely up to the individual

whether they do or they don't have cosmetic surgery.

Sometimes, of course,

it doesn't matter what you look like or what your attitude is,

if you feel that the place you live or work doesn't welcome you.

Which brings us back to Manchester and its pioneering status

as Britain's first age-friendly city,

joining some of the world's greatest cities,

like Sydney, Tokyo and New York.

But what does it all mean?

I'm meeting a man who has been instrumental in making it happen -

Paul McGarry from the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub.

So, Paul, tell me, what is an age-friendly city?

Well, an age-friendly city

means rethinking how we think about cities,

and it means redesigning cities for people as they get older.

So, we think about housing, transport, our health service,

the physical design of cities.

We have to think about the cultural services,

local communities and so on,

so, it's a really big job that we've got ahead of us.

We've come a long way from when reaching a certain age

meant you were expected to pack up your bags

and move to the coast or countryside,

when the city was a place for the young and trendy.

Today's considerable number of older people

want to stay in the heart of where the action is.

But Paul's ambitions aren't just about things

like improving work opportunities and parks.

He's thinking about older people's social lives.

He's even got a nightclub opened.

Have you been to the nightclub, or are you too young?

Like all the members of my team,

I've been to the age-friendly nightclub.

Had a great time with people from across Greater Manchester

because one of the things that they said

was that they'd love to go out in the city centre in the evenings,

like they did when they were listening to the Beatles

and the Stones, and once every couple of months,

the My Generation nightclub has live bands, live music,

people dance the night away and have a great time,

and reclaim part of the city centre that was always theirs.

How can older people engage with the process?

Well, in 2004, we set up our first Older People's Board,

which is a representative group right across the city.

The other thing that we have each year

is an older people's parliament,

where over 100 community organisations gather together

in this building and tell us what they think

about the progress that we've made.

When you see older people stand up at meetings and say,

"This work has transformed my life,"

or when you get letters from people

who say, "I haven't spoken to anybody for a month,"

and they say, "The work that you're doing

"is making a brilliant difference," then it's fantastic.

So, why do age-friendly cities matter

not just to the old, but everyone?

The changes and the progress that we make now

will benefit everybody eventually,

and if you think that the progressive gains

that people in the '60s, '70s and '80s have made,

over the last 50 years,

whether it's women's equality, race equality,

lesbian and gay equality,

adding age equality to that would be a fantastic success.

# Highs and lows

# Stops and goes

# Drawing maps with you

# Lefts and rights

# Days and nights

# Sharing it with you... #

That tolerance is one of the things I love about Manchester -

its openness and diversity helps make it the great city that it is.

There is every type of person in this place,

living their lives exactly as they want to.

For those of a certain age, however,

maybe brought up in different times, under different circumstances,

this freedom is something they've missed out on,

and the result is often an old age

filled with regret and unhappiness, and even anger.

So, what should you do?

Well, the person I'm meeting next has a life-changing attitude

to how she wanted to grow older.

Jenny-Anne was born as Paul in 1946,

and spent her younger years living a very run-of-the-mill life...

Yes, that was me as a youngster - and then when I went to university.

..but it was only when she reached the age of 62

that she felt able to tell the world

a secret she had been keeping all her life.

The person many knew as a "he" was actually a "she,"

and, in 2007, she began to live the life she'd always wanted.

And then that's the first group I went to in Surrey, actually.

-A gaggle of girls.

-A gaggle of girls, yeah.

In a society where older people struggle to have their voices heard,

Jenny-Anne is using her story to make a real difference,

and, thankfully, people are wanting to listen.

People like the Manchester police force,

where today Jenny-Anne is giving an interactive Q&A

to highlight the importance of organisations listening to everyone.

There's gender identity, the way you present yourself,

and it's the way people see you

and the way you send the message of who you are

and how you want to be seen...

While Jenny-Anne finishes her presentation,

I'm speaking to Divisional Commander Rich Jackson,

who values Jenny-Anne's role in teaching his officers

a new way of looking at the world.

I feel that it's so important to get people such as Jenny in

to speak from their first-hand views, where they've, obviously,

they've gone through a journey themselves,

they've experienced all sorts of negativity and hostility

through a transition period, and they can explain, themselves,

exactly what they've gone through,

so that the officers and staff that are present

can have a real empathy with the journey that they've been on.

Jenny isn't just speaking on behalf of the transgender community,

she's also a representative of Manchester's senior citizens,

who also need to build bridges with the police.

Up to half a million people over 65

are believed to be victims of crime each year,

such as abuse, neglect and street crime - yet many go unreported.

But, now, I want to find out more about how Jenny-Anne

can be an inspiration for us all

when it comes to holding back the years.

It's fair to say your story is pretty unusual,

but do you think it has wider lessons for older people, too?

I think it does, because it means you can be whoever you want to be

in older life, and you can do whatever you feel you want to do.

It's very important just to be yourself, whatever that is.

You said it, Jenny!

How did growing older help you come to terms with your decision,

and did this decision help you hold back the years?

Yes.

I delayed being myself for family reasons,

for work reasons - I lost my job lots of times -

and when I got older, it meant I could please myself.

The kids were grown up,

we looked after my parents, and, unfortunately, they died,

so I really had that freedom to do what I wanted to do

and to be myself,

and, by doing that, it made me feel so much younger.

-I behave like I'm 30!

-So, you certainly held back the years!

Yes - but, unfortunately, every so often,

-my body says enough is enough!

-Yeah.

Do you find it more difficult being old or being a woman?

Oh, being a woman is easy, because that's who I am.

Being older, sometimes, is annoying,

because it limits your physical energy,

but I try not to let that worry me,

because I just have so much left in my life to do.

I have enough left for ten lifetimes!

What message would you like to give

to anyone who is a similar age to you

about what life they should live?

Oh, my message is just be yourself, do what you want to do,

because it will make you so much happier,

so much more confident, and it'll help you live longer, as well.

I hope I've shown you that when it comes to holding back the years,

my home town of Manchester

is definitely setting the pace for role models...

..but what about the rest of the country?

Well, it's getting there.

11 urban centres have followed the Manchester lead

in becoming age-friendly cities,

thereby creating a nationwide network

to influence policy and practice -

from Belfast to Brighton, Glasgow to Cardiff,

it feels like old people are finally being listened to.

Ultimately, of course, as with most things,

it is often what happens in the capital

that sets the agenda for the rest of the country.

One woman, however,

is determined that those inside hear her voice,

and, in all weathers,

she is prepared to stand up for what she believes in.

I don't mind being out in the cold - it keeps me young, somehow.

It's a little sense of some power in my hand.

I'm meeting veteran campaigner Anne Power

at a place she knows only too well - Westminster.

At the age of 85, she is passionate

about the need for all of us to be more environmentally aware,

and not to shirk from challenging authority.

Anne, you're 85 years old -

what makes you so passionate about getting your voice heard?

Well, it's anger, basically.

I realise, now, I've been angry all my life.

Margret Thatcher made me join the Green Party.

So, that was a big turning point in my life.

Do you ever see yourself slowing down,

or are you going to keep fighting on?

I hope I'm going to keep fighting,

because the thing that happened to me

was, four years ago, when fracking came to 6 miles from my house,

I had to get down there.

I saw people setting up camps. It was very cold indeed.

All kinds of people were there, sleeping in tents,

getting out every morning,

walking in front of lorries to slow them down.

So, I had to join them,

but I also met a community of people who were so...inspiring.

You seem like you're a voice that needs to be heard.

Well, that's how I feel.

My voice is now so strong and so clear,

in a way that it's never been before.

There's rich people, and the rest of us.

Do you think that sometimes the voices of older people

struggle to be heard?

I find that people are very diffident -

as I was - would not express an opinion too much,

or would think that they couldn't -

what could they do, if they had an opinion?

And now I would say, you can do something.

There's always something that you can do, and that you can say.

I have felt myself so empowered.

Would you say, no matter what your age,

-it's never too late for your voice to be heard?

-Oh, yes, I would.

Absolutely true.

Most people have children and grandchildren,

and you can be a tremendous influence there -

and sometimes you can be an influence in the school,

through your children and grandchildren.

It's just sort of the journey I've been on,

of discovering the strength that is in there

that I didn't realise was sitting there, you know?

Do you know, I even stood for Parliament two years ago?!

Oh, dear!

Whatever made you do that?

Well, I must be a lunatic, obviously,

-but, you know, I didn't quite expect to get in...

-Mm.

..but I wanted to fight,

and I wanted a platform to talk about the fracking,

primarily, but it was so rewarding,

because I found I could speak at hustings -

-I didn't know I was going to be able to do that.

-Yes.

I thought, "I don't carry facts in my head, I'm not good at that,

"they'll ask me questions and I won't know what the answers are,"

but I found it wasn't necessary to produce all the facts and figures -

it was important to win people's enthusiasm,

and I found I could do that.

I surprised myself. It was really quite enjoyable!

Do you think you'd like more older people to take on the challenges

-that you've taken on?

-I would love that.

Yes, I would love that.

By believing in yourself more, you know,

grey power could be phenomenal,

because we've got all that experience,

we've got all that knowledge, and we've nothing to lose.

-We've nothing to lose, have we?

-Absolutely.

You know, it's the end of the days, we should try and leave a mark.

It's nearly time for me to dance off into the sunset,

but, before I do, I want to take you somewhere

that I consider my spiritual home from home.

A place they can teach the rest of the country a few moves

when it comes to how old and young can mix in perfect unison.

London's West End theatre district.

When I first came to London, back in the 1970s,

I was an ambitious dancer looking to make my mark,

and it was this place that took me in.

Here, the naive and ambitious mix with the seasoned professionals -

young hopefuls with old luvvies.

It's a recipe that's still working to this day,

and nowhere more so than my old dancing stomping ground,

Pineapple Studios.

It's a place where the next generation

of young, brilliant dancers learn their craft

but which has been built by a woman

who continues to inspire and lead into her 70s.

Her name is Debbie Moore, and she built this place from scratch.

-How are you?

-OK!

-I'm going to talk to you!

-Come on, come on!

In her time, Debbie has been a real pioneer

when it comes to the arts, business, and women's place in both,

but she has always had one overarching philosophy

when it comes to life.

Age doesn't matter.

People all over the world for generations have loved to dance.

Everybody loves to dance, whatever age they are, or what have you,

and we cater, here, for children from three years old to...

our eldest member's 84, so, there's something for everyone here,

and there always will be.

So, now, she, too, is in her 70s, I'll be interested to hear

what she has to say on the matter of getting older.

First, though, she's got out the old photo album.

I've got something here to show you that might help us!

-Cos, look, I've had it blown up, look.

-Oh, my...!

-Well, there you are.

-And I look at me, and I think...

-Gorgeous!

-I can't really remember dressing like that, really!

-Debbie, you did.

Leopard skin.

-And, then, you're here!

-Look at me!

-Yeah.

-I'm looking very serious.

We were young, ambitious, driven.

There's been a lot of years since then to now.

Were we different people then?

I'm quite sure we're the same people.

We've always had this kind of fighting spirit,

-and I think part of that's cos we were born in Manchester.

-Yeah!

We were brought up with,

-"There's no such thing as a free lunch, darling."

-No.

You know, we were just always happy to work hard,

and we'd be lost if we didn't.

It's like people say, you know,

"Aren't you going to ease off, or give up, or retire?"

Like, "You're kidding, it would kill me."

I don't feel that I'm getting old.

You know, I have as much energy, if not more.

Do you feel, today, we live in a society that is obsessed with youth?

There is an overconfidence I see in youth that worries me,

-that has no basis, actually.

-Yeah.

You know, our daughters still come to us for advice, don't they?

-My daughters...

-Or does she...? She doesn't know it all, does she?

-My daughters do not know it all!

-Right! Good.

-Far from it.

I was brought up in a time when the older generation was respected,

and, now, I find it much harder for people to stop and listen.

Older people are being told to sit there, watch TV,

and don't be a nuisance,

and it is a kind of bullying.

All our lives, we've been told to stand up for ourselves,

but, as we get older, that weakens that resolve,

but they've got to stand up for themselves more.

But, with Debbie,

it's more than just about words. She's also about actions,

and in the studios today,

there are golden oldie dancers shaking their booty

as enthusiastically as the young professionals next door.

It's all about expressing who you are, no matter what your age,

which leads me to my final question.

Do you think older people should follow their dreams?

We've been telling people since forever, you and I,

to follow your dreams,

and, so, when you're older, basically, it's the last lap.

So, if you've not done it yet, cos you're too shy,

or you haven't, you know, had the courage to,

"Come on, follow that dream," and...

-"Not a rehearsal."

-"Get on with it!"

-Yes.

And that's as good a motto as any

when it comes to holding back the years - get on with it!

I totally agree with Debbie.

Older people shouldn't allow themselves to be pushed aside.

It's about being seen, being heard, keeping fit and fabulous.

So, how to sum up?

Well, there can be no doubt that we live in a world

that is obsessed with being young, sexy and beautiful.

And, let's be honest, that ain't going to change any time soon,

which is why it's important to find role models of our own,

but they don't have to be famous.

I hope I've introduced you to some everyday folk

who might inspire or encourage you to fight back.

-Cos it was fabulous!

-Fabulous!

-Yeah, what was I worrying about?

People who are refusing to be invisible,

who are determined for their voice to be heard...

It was important to win people's enthusiasm,

and I found I could do that.

..and leading the sort of life they've always wanted to.

So, before I give you one last little surprise,

let's find out, how well do they think are doing?

On a scale of 1 to 10,

how successful have you been in holding back the years?

9, because I think there's always something else

that I could be doing.

9.

Oh, a 10, definitely.

Er, a definite 10, but I'm aiming for 11.

THEY LAUGH

I'd like to say 10.

There is obviously something else I could do,

but I'm doing my best about the years, so, I'll say 10.

I think definitely 10,

but, hopefully, I'll carry on for a lot longer.

Oh, at least 10.

11!

But I can't possibly end without doing the one thing in life I love -

dancing.

I'm going to surprise a group who sum up everything

I've seen and heard on my journey in a way close to my heart.

The Saracens Sport Foundation dance group has over 250 members,

from those in their 50s to their 90s.

They live life to the full by just going for it.

So, let's put that to the test,

as they don't know who their guest instructor is today.

Well, the lovely Holly, here,

told me that I could take your class today.

So, here we go. Let's use our hips.

MUSIC: Adventure of a Lifetime by Coldplay

Here we go. Hips.

Whoo!

'That was fun!

'I'd dance with those ladies any day,

'and perhaps I'm doing OK at holding back the years, too.'

On my journey, I've met some truly inspirational people

who are determined to make their voice heard.

For me, that's the key to holding back the years.